Highly Expressive Sketches of the UK and Ireland by Oliver Towne

As soon as I came across Oliver Towne’s quirky sketches of the UK and Ireland, I knew I had to share them with you. Oliver Towne is the alter-ego of illustrator Michael Mullan. Where Michael creates digital pieces, Oliver sticks to free-hand sketches that are colourful and highly expressive. Enjoy! 

Your sketches are very colourful and unique. How did this style develop?

My style developed from my sketchbook. I went to the UK and Ireland with my brother a few years ago and came back from the trip totally inspired by the history, the culture, architecture, food, and the countryside. I documented the places we went in a sketchbook as a way to preserve some of these memories. I gave the sketchbook to my brother as a gift for helping me fund the trip.

The sketches were done very quickly with pen and marker… so pretty crude and low-tech. The pages were thin so a lot of the drawings bled from page to page. This wasn’t planned but I really liked how blemishes carry over from page to page making it sequential.

Why Oliver Towne?

I really enjoyed working in this style and it got great feedback from friends so I had to revisit it. I started doing a lot more sketch work this way and pretty soon I had a new body of work that felt like a huge departure from my main portfolio (i.e. Michael Mullan). Having two separate portfolios helps me balance my time creating digitally vs traditionally.

Let’s talk about process. What steps do you take when creating each piece?

I take pictures everywhere I go and make a point to photography icons or images that are significant to me. Later, I go back to the reference photos and sketch from those. I don’t use a pencil or do any pre-planning. I give myself one chance to get it right. As I draw, I make mistakes and work around them. The more wonky and strange the better.

What inspires your work?

I love naive, folk and children’s art. I love the simplicity and the imperfections that make this style of art unique.

What do you hope the sketches tell viewers about the UK and Ireland?

These sketches were a way of paying tribute to the history and culture of England and Ireland as well as document my experience. I hope viewers will see the immediacy in the drawings and get a sense of timelessness… that something ancient is happening right now.

I’m from the US where everything is relatively new. I hope other Americans travel there with a similar appreciation for the past.

What tips do you have for any readers who might want to visit the UK or Ireland? Any insider advice?

Get a rental car and drive the Ring of Kerry. It’s an incredible ride!

If you could sketch anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

India, Rome, or Greece. Again, for the history and architecture which I love. Also, Alaska for its natural beauty.

Finally, what advice would you give to readers who might be interested in sketching whilst they travel?

Allow yourself enough time in each place. Carry minimal tools and finish the work later. Going from memory can be a fun exercise too.

You can see more of Oliver’s work on his website or more of Michael’s work here.

Finally… Musement, a site offering museum tickets, art tours, and cultural activities has kindly let Wanderarti readers get €5 off purchases. Just use the code WANDERARTI and you can get discounted offers all over Europe!